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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 2016)
MUSIC BY DANIEL BROMFIELD LOCAL LEGENDS UNITE Norma Frasier and Thomas Mapfumo share the stage for the first time NORMA FRASER AND THOMAS MAPFUMO PHOTOS:TODD COOPER N orma Fraser and Thomas Mapfumo are legendary musicians, both residing right here in Eugene. If you’ve never heard of them, don’t beat yourself up. They’re better known in their countries of origin — Jamaica and Zimbabwe, respectively — than in the states. Fraser’s 1967 cover of Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest” was a critical and commercial success both in Jamaica and abroad, helping sow the seeds for the starry- eyed reggae subgenre called “lovers rock.” Fraser also tells of how she taught Rita Marley, Bob Marley’s musical col- laborator and wife, how to sing. As for Mapfumo, he’s a superstar back home, best known for inventing a fusion of Western pop and the tra- ditional folk music of Zimbabwe’s Shona people. He calls the music chimurenga — a Shona word meaning “revolu- tionary struggle” — and as the name suggests, Mapfumo is a political firebrand who’s been on the wrong side of both Zimbabwe’s British colonial government and the repres- sive Robert Mugabe regime that replaced it. These are two musicians that will talk to no end about how fucked up the world is — especially this summer, where barely a day goes by without something earth- shatteringly horrible happening. In fact, Fraser says she’s having trouble writing new music because “every time I write an album, things change in the world and I have to rewrite.” Mapfumo’s working on a new album with his band The Blacks Unlimited, but his focus is broader. “We are send- ing this message: Killing each other is not the solution,” he says. “The solution is that we should actually live like a people, you know?” Fraser says it was the idea of the bookers at Hi-Fi Music Hall for the two to come together. The year-old venue is the first ever to get these musicians on the same bill, perform- ing Aug. 27, and it’s likely there will be ample backstage discussion about the state of the world. Fraser is familiar with Mapfumo’s music and legacy, and says she’s excited to perform with him. “We’re activists coming from two different cultures,” Fraser says. “He’s from Africa, I’m from Jamaica. Even though I was born in Jamaica, I know my heritage is from Africa. I hope our energies will combine and become something magnetic, something that will make people feel refreshed, recharged.” Mapfumo says he is less familiar with Fraser’s music but is nonetheless excited. Mapfumo has rabid fans all over the planet. He tours most of the year, having recently re- turned from concerts in Mozambique and Britain. Thus, his hometown shows are few, far-between and well-attended. “It’s been a long time since we played a show here, so we are expecting quite a good showing,” he says. “The show here in Eugene is gonna be something else. Any- where we play people like to get on the floor and dance.” Norma Frasier and Thomas Mapfumo perform 9 pm Saturday, Aug. 27, at Hi-Fi Music Hall; $15 adv.; $18 door, 21-plus. August 25, 26, 27 Reserve at dareescaperooms.com 25 % – 50 % off Everything! % 60 off Clearance! ENROLLING NOW! Rock Star! ASK ABOUT OUR Cherry Tree Trunk Show 541-683-5903 www.harlequinbeads.com How To Be A FREE 30 MIN TRIAL LESSONS ENGAGE YOUR MUSIC EY JOURN Performance Based Music School 90 Lawrence St. • Eugene 541-393-6893 AllStarRockFoundation.com eugeneweekly.com • A ugust 25, 2016 23
